Passive integrity management of an implantable device

Abstract

A medical device prosthesis, including a housing and a piezoelectric transducer including a piezoelectric component, wherein the piezoelectric transducer is supported in the housing via at least one spring. In some embodiments, the medical device prosthesis is a bone conduction device, such as a transcutaneous passive or active bone conduction device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A prosthetic medical device, comprising:
 a housing; and 
 a piezoelectric component, wherein 
 the piezoelectric component is supported in the housing via at least one spring. 
 
     
     
       2. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one spring is a leaf spring. 
 
     
     
       3. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the piezoelectric component is directly supported in the housing by the at least one spring. 
 
     
     
       4. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device is configured to permit a seismic mass supported by the piezoelectric component to strike a housing wall. 
     
     
       5. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the medical device has a core component about which the piezoelectric component extends, and wherein the piezoelectric component is configured to move along a longitudinal axis of the core as a result of compression of the at least one spring. 
 
     
     
       6. The medical device of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the medical device is a bone conduction device; 
 the piezoelectric component is configured to vibrate in response to a captured sound; and 
 the medical device is configured such that at least some of the vibrations generated by the piezoelectric component travel from the piezoelectric component to the core via a vibration bridge. 
 
     
     
       7. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the piezoelectric component is supported within the housing by at least two separate springs, both of which are in compression, corresponding to the at least one spring. 
 
     
     
       8. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the prosthetic medical device is configured to enable permanent shock-proofing of the piezoelectric component beyond that which results from damping. 
 
     
     
       9. A component of a bone conduction device, comprising:
 a housing; and 
 a transducer-seismic mass assembly, wherein 
 the component is configured to enable permanent shock-proofing of the assembly beyond that which results from damping, and 
 the permanent shock-proofing is a result of the component being configured to automatically at least partially decouple a vibratory path extending from the transducer-seismic mass assembly to the housing upon the housing experiencing a G force above a certain level. 
 
     
     
       10. The component of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the component is configured to automatically reestablish the vibratory path extending from the transducer-seismic mass assembly to the housing upon the housing being relieved from exposure of the G force above the certain level. 
 
     
     
       11. The component of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the transducer-seismic mass assembly includes a piezoelectric bender and one or more counterweights located at ends of the piezoelectric bender; 
 the component is configured to apply an electrical current to the piezoelectric bender to cause the piezoelectric bender to bend in a vibratory manner, thereby moving the one or more counterweights towards and away from a surface of the housing in a vibratory manner; and 
 the piezoelectric bender is springingly clamped within the housing. 
 
     
     
       12. The component of the bone conduction device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the housing is completely implanted in a recipient underneath skin of the recipient. 
 
     
     
       13. A component of a bone conduction device, comprising:
 a housing; and 
 a transducer-seismic mass assembly, wherein 
 the component is configured to enable permanent shock-proofing of the assembly beyond that which results from damping, 
 the transducer-seismic mass assembly includes a counterweight, and 
 the permanent shock-proofing is a result of the component being configured to enable the counterweight to strike an interior of the housing upon subjecting the housing to a G force that would otherwise break the transducer-seismic mass assembly in the absence of the shock-proofing. 
 
     
     
       14. The component of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the transducer-seismic mass assembly includes a piezoelectric bender; 
 the component is configured to apply an electrical current to the piezoelectric bender to cause the piezoelectric bender to bend in a vibratory manner, thereby moving the counterweight, which is attached to the piezoelectric bender, towards and away from a surface of the housing in a vibratory manner; 
 the piezoelectric bender is non-rigidly connected to the housing; and 
 the component is configured such that vibrations from the piezoelectric bender travel therefrom to the housing to evoke a hearing percept. 
 
     
     
       15. The component of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the transducer-seismic mass assembly includes a piezoelectric bender that surrounds a core of the housing; and 
 the component is configured such that portions of the piezoelectric bender that are directly adjacent the core move in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the core when the piezoelectric bender is subjected to a force greater than ten Newtons in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction, thereby permanently shock-proofing the assembly. 
 
     
     
       16. A bone conduction device, comprising:
 a housing; and 
 a transducer-seismic mass assembly including a piezoelectric component, wherein 
 the transducer-seismic mass assembly of the bone conduction device is configured to translate in its entirety within the housing when the housing is closed. 
 
     
     
       17. The component of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the transducer-seismic mass assembly is supported within the housing by at least two separate springs, both of which are in compression. 
 
     
     
       18. The component of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the transducer-seismic mass assembly is in vibrational communication with the housing via a vibration bridge extending from the transducer-seismic mass assembly to the housing and in contact with both the transducer-seismic mass and the housing, wherein the vibration bridge is not secured to the housing or the transducer-seismic mass. 
 
     
     
       19. The component of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the transducer-seismic mass assembly is in vibrational communication with the housing via a vibration bridge extending from the transducer-seismic mass assembly to the housing; 
 the component is configured to force the vibration bridge into full contact with the transducer-seismic mass and vis-a-versa when the transducer-seismic mass is actuated to evoke a bone conduction hearing when subject to less than a 10 G environment; and 
 the component is configured to enable the transducer-seismic mass to move away from a substantial portion of the vibration bridge when the transducer-seismic mass is subject to an acceleration greater than 20G in a first direction. 
 
     
     
       20. The component of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the component is configured such that the vibration bridge is held against the transducer-seismic mass assembly when the transducer-seismic mass is subject to an acceleration greater than 20G in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
 
     
     
       21. The component of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the transducer-seismic mass assembly is at least indirectly sandwiched between a first spring under a first compression force and a second spring under a second compression force on an opposite side of the transducer-seismic mass assembly from the first spring; 
 the transducer-seismic mass assembly is configured to translate in the direction of the first spring upon the transducer-seismic mass assembly applying a force against the first spring greater than the first force; and 
 the transducer-seismic mass assembly is configured to translate in the direction of the second spring upon the transducer-seismic mass applying a force against the second spring greater than the second force. 
 
     
     
       22. The component of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the transducer-seismic mass assembly is configured to only translate in the direction of the first spring upon the transducer-seismic mass assembly applying a force against the first spring greater than 1.25 times the first force; and 
 the transducer-seismic mass assembly is configured to only translate in the direction of the second spring upon the transducer-seismic mass applying a force against the second spring greater than 1.25 times the second force. 
 
     
     
       23. The component of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the first compression force is greater than the second compression force when the entirety of the transducer-seismic mass is static relative to the housing. 
 
     
     
       24. The component of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the transducer-seismic mass assembly is configured to translate in its entirety within the housing when the housing is stationary relative to tissue of a recipient. 
 
     
     
       25. A method, comprising:
 obtaining a component of a medical device prosthesis including a piezoelectric bender; and 
 operating the component in a first mechanical state such that the piezoelectric bender bends in a manner that at least one of consumes or generates electricity, wherein 
 the component is configured to experience an acceleration of 30Gs in the first mechanical state in both directions normal to a plane of extension of the piezoelectric bender and subsequently operate in the first mechanical state, 
 the piezoelectric bender floats in its entirety within a housing, and 
 the method includes operating the component in the first mechanical state with the piezoelectric bender floating in its entirety within the housing. 
 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the component is an implantable portion of an active transcutaneous bone conduction device; and 
 the method further comprises:
 subjecting the component to an acceleration of at least 100Gs, wherein 
 
 the action of attaching the component to a recipient includes implanting the component in the recipient after subjecting the component to an acceleration of at least 100Gs. 
 
     
     
       27. A method, comprising:
 obtaining a component of a medical device prosthesis including a piezoelectric bender; and 
 operating the component in a first mechanical state such that the piezoelectric bender bends in a manner that at least one of consumes or generates electricity, wherein 
 the component is configured to experience an acceleration of 30Gs in the first mechanical state in both directions normal to a plane of extension of the piezoelectric bender and subsequently operate in the first mechanical state, and 
 the piezoelectric bender is at least indirectly sandwiched between at least two springs while the component is in the first mechanical state, the at least two springs collectively applying a compressive force onto the piezoelectric bender, wherein the at least two springs are compressible in opposite directions to enable the piezoelectric bender to move within a housing, in its entirety, in the respective direction of compression. 
 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the component is a bone conduction device; 
 at least one seismic mass is supported in its entirety by the piezoelectric bender; and 
 the component is configured such that the seismic mass moves a distance that is at least 10 times greater than the distance that the seismic mass moves from a rest position when energized with maximum electrical current and voltage producible by the component when subjected to 100Gs. 
 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the component is a bone conduction device; 
 at least one seismic mass is supported in its entirety by the piezoelectric bender; and 
 the component is configured such that the seismic mass moves a distance that is at least 50 times greater than the distance that the seismic mass moves from a rest position when energized with maximum electrical current and voltage producible by the component when subjected to 100Gs. 
 
     
     
       30. A method, comprising:
 obtaining a component of a medical device prosthesis including a piezoelectric bender; and 
 operating the component in a first mechanical state such that the piezoelectric bender bends in a manner that at least one of consumes or generates electricity, wherein 
 the component is configured to experience an acceleration of 30Gs in the first mechanical state in both directions normal to a plane of extension of the piezoelectric bender and subsequently operate in the first mechanical state, 
 the piezoelectric bender encompasses a core of a housing of the medical device in which the piezoelectric bender is located, and 
 the piezoelectric bender is slidably retained to the core when in the first mechanical state. 
 
     
     
       31. A component of a bone conduction device, comprising:
 a housing; and 
 a transducer-seismic mass assembly, wherein 
 the component is configured to enable permanent shock-proofing of the assembly beyond that which results from damping, and 
 the transducer-seismic mass assembly includes a piezoelectric component as the transducer, and 
 the enablement of permanent shock-proofing of the assembly beyond that which results from damping is also beyond that which would result from portions of the transducer-seismic mass assembly being stopped by contact, direct or otherwise, by the housing, due to bending of the piezoelectric component.